Monday, March 23, 2009

Saturday, March 14, 2009

I had a difficult time settling on a title for this post which is a response to the commenter, Jules, who is in high dungeon over my post "Charles Schumer: Confessions of a Jewish Hit Man". Jules considers that in this day and age, such a post is unacceptable and is disgusted that I would deny Jews the right of free speech.

The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show has always been one of my favorite cartoons. Now I can see them on Joost:

The Rocky and Bullwinkle episode is always shown in two parts, with the first part ending with a cliff hanger. In this episode, Rocky and Bullwinkle are about to get crushed between a cruise ship and the dock when the narrator intones, "Don't miss the next episode... Summer Squash or He's too flat for me."

The original title for this post was:

"Big AIPAC Attack OR Jules in High Dungeon"

But I decided that without the Rocky and Bullwinkle reference, it wouldn't make much sense. Besides, it was fun looking up those old cartoons. and the current title accurately portrays Jules' magic trick attempt to discredit my opinion.

Now suppose Jules, after reading this article by Steven Rosen--which kicked off this little circle jerk--had called up Senator Schumer's office and told the intern who answered the phone, "Charles Freeman is a dastardly Snidely Whiplash who would like nothing more than to see Israel tied up on the train tracks like Nell Fenwick!" Well, that would be significant example of exercising free speech.

Or, suppose the author of a blog posted a satirical portrayal of Chuck Schumer's actions in this affair; A blog so obscure that trying to measure its popularity would render even the finest U.S. weights and measures' micrometer as but a blunt instrument. That would be another significant example of exercising free speech.

Certainly Senator Schumer retains his first amendment rights, but this was essentially Chuck making the Obama administration an offer they could not refuse. I don't think that is enshrined in the Bill of Rights. The fact that this started with a seed planted by AIPAC and ended when Schumer declared the nomination nonviable and the fact that Schumer bragged about it, pretty much tells the story, which Charles Freeman captures perfectly:

"I believe that the inability of the American public to discuss, or the government to consider, any option for US policies in the Middle East opposed by the ruling faction in Israeli politics has allowed that faction to adopt and sustain policies that ultimately threaten the existence of the state of Israel. It is not permitted for anyone in the United States to say so. This is not just a tragedy for Israelis and their neighbors in the Middle East; it is doing widening damage to the national security of the United States."